Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Nick Cohen on the royal pain 
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Charles Windsor constantly interferes in politics and promotes every variety of reactionary superstition and new-age quackery.… Read the rest
Want to drive on the sabbath? Get a thought car
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It totally works, because thought is not action, so you’re allowed to use the thought car.… Read the rest
Katha Pollitt on the bitter tea of Greg Mortenson
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Afghanistan and Pakistan have many honest aid workers, including many locals—they just don’t get the celebrity media treatment or the celebrity-sized budgets.… Read the rest
Blair and Brown not invited to the royal wedding
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Palace explains. We forgot. No, they’re not knights of the garter. No, it wasn’t a state occasion. No, they’re not Vic’s great-great-great grandsons.… Read the rest
China scolds Salman Rushdie about human rights
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rushdie called for the release of Ai Weiwei. China calls this “blatant interference in China’s judicial independence.”… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on the archbish on evolution
Apr 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Buried within the leaden prose is a deep and abiding dislike for evolutionary biology and genetics in particular.… Read the rest
Charles Freeman on reliquaries at the British Museum
Apr 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Glittering opulence risks concealing the anguish poured out at the shrines as those desperate for salvation pleaded with a saint to intercede with God for them.… Read the rest
Hitchens on the upcoming nuptials
Apr 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By some mystic alchemy, the breeding imperatives for a dynasty become the stuff of romance, even “fairy tale.”… Read the rest
Stupid “birther” ravings carry on regardless
Apr 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“It’s easier psychologically to come up with a rationalization than it is to admit that you were wrong,” said Ronald Lindsay.… Read the rest
The squalor of US politics
Apr 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Obama wearily produced his birth certificate, so the loons changed the subject. “How did he get into those Ivy League schools? Huh? Explain that!”… Read the rest
Russell Blackford on atheists against atheism
Apr 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheist thinkers have joined the backlash against the New Atheism, often employing far nastier tones than anything in the New Atheist writings themselves.… Read the rest
Ron Lindsay on atheism, humanism and “interfaith”
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We should avoid the “faith” label at least as vigorously as we avoid the “religion” label.… Read the rest
Topp theologian says genocide ok if god says so
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Look: the Canaanite adults were corrupt and deserving of judgement. The children inherit eternal life. It’s all good.… Read the rest
Atheist “chaplains” in the military
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheist leaders acknowledge the seeming contradiction, but they believe the imprimatur of the chaplaincy will embolden atheists who worry about being ostracized.… Read the rest
Sanal Edamaruku on India without Sai Baba
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sathya Sai Baba launched a “counter revolution” of superstition, supported by irresponsible politicians and other public figures who should have known better.… Read the rest
Barbara Forrest’s brave and important work
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Synthese controversy will have one good outcome if it brings Forrest’s work for real science education in Louisiana to the attention of the philosophical community.… Read the rest
A Gnu does the Colbert Report
Apr 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A C Grayling explains humanism to Stephen Colbert.… Read the rest
Texas: Bill Nye booed for saying moon reflects light
Apr 26th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
See, the bible says there were two lights, a big one for the day and a little one for the night, and that’s good enough for Texas.… Read the rest
Shaker Srinivasan on “Sai Baba”
Apr 26th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nothing exemplifies better the “peaceful coexistence” between religion and science than the cozy relationship between Indian scientists and the b-grade magician.… Read the rest
Brooklyn: girls from West Africa recall FGM
Apr 26th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many elders in West African communities hold great social authority and do not seek parental permission to have it done to a girl.… Read the rest
